Temporal Characters Research Articles

Age estimation by skeletochronology and advertisement call variation in the black-spotted pond frog (Rana nigromaculata)

Advertisement calls may contain information about the callers and the calling spot, which can be used during mate selection. The relationships between variations in advertisement call characters and age, snout-vent length (SVL), and water temperature were analyzed for the black-spotted pond frog (Rana nigromaculata). After recording the advertisement calls, we measured the SVL of the callers and the water temperature of the calling spot, then we collected a toe clipping from each of the 25 individuals recorded. The age of each frog was determined using the skeletochronological method. The frogs were two to eight years old and the asymptotic size was 6.3 cm when fitted to the von Bertalanffy growth equation. Age was not linearly correlated with SVL. In the analysis of 743 recorded advertisement calls from 25 individuals, the water temperature caused a decrease in males’ call duration with more pulse groups, each having higher pulse rates, irrespective of age and SVL. Older males produced calls with more pulse groups and shorter pulse-group duration, which led to increasing call durations irrespective of the water temperature. Larger males produced lower dominant frequency, irrespective of the water temperature. Advertisement calls of the black-spotted pond frog provide information about the quality of males and the manner in which females use this information during mate selection. In this study, we provide information on how frequency reflects male size while temporal characters reflect age.

Estimating NO2 dry deposition using satellite data in eastern China

The spatial and temporal characters of ground-level NO2 concentration over eastern China were retrieved from the monthly averaged tropospheric NO2 column densities from Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME, data used in this study are from April 1996 to December 2002) and Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY, data used in this study are from January 2003 to December 2011) measurements. Together with the NO2 concentration and the dry deposition velocity maps of eastern China, the fluxes of NO2 dry deposition were estimated for three specific regions. The results indicated that the surface NO2 concentration in eastern China increased dramatically from 1996 to 2011, and it showed distinct regional and seasonal variational characteristics. The highest concentration occurred in winter while the lowest occurred in summer. There was also variation in the spatial distribution with the peak value of NO2 concentration appearing in the plains of north China (R1), the Yangtze River delta (R2), and the Pearl River delta (R3). A sharp increase of NO2 concentration appeared in R1 and R2, while it was invariant or showed an obvious decrease in R3 during the period of 1996–2011. Furthermore, we compared the NO2 dry deposition fluxes estimated from the ground-level NO2 concentration and the dry deposition velocity of NO2 with the mass concentration of NO2 dry deposition that, measured from the control experiments and by consulting the published literature, showed a significant correlation (P < 0.001) and had a high R value (R = 0.73). The results also indicated that the NO2 dry deposition fluxes increased over eastern China, with a maximum value of 8.25 kg N ha−1 yr−1 from 1996 to 2011 in R3, while the value was characterized by fluxes of less than 2.27 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in R2. When comparing the NO2 dry deposition over different land covers, the values distinctly peaked over artificial surfaces and evergreen forests, with maximum values of 10.07 and 9.49 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in R1, 5.05 and 4.94 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in R2, and 20.95 and 23.15 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in R3. However, the lowest value of NO2 dry deposition flux appeared over needleleaf forests, with 0.53, 0.24, and 1.29 kg N ha−1 yr−1 for R1, R2, and R3, respectively.

Temporal, Spectral and Spatial Characterization of High-Energy Laser Pulse with Small Bandwidth Propagating through Long Path

Temporal, spectral and spatial characters of 0.3-nm-bandwidth high-energy laser pulse propagating through a long path are studied in detail in one newly constructed beamline of our laser facility. The evolution of propagation, pulse energy and near-field deterioration are analyzed theoretically and experimentally. Substituting argon for air is demonstrated effectively to suppress stimulated rotational Raman scattering and the experimental result provides operating criterion, and engineering parameters for the under-constructed beamlines.

Cross Comparison of Solar X‐Ray Data Between FY‐2C/D Satellite and GOES Satellite

AbstractFengyun 2 (FY‐2) satellite is the first generation of geostationary meteorological satellite of China. The solar X‐ray detector aboard on FY‐2C/D has capability to observe the solar X‐ray flux of &gt;5.18 keV and &gt;3.27 keV, respectively. For the purpose of examining the effectiveness of FY‐2C/D X‐ray data, we compare them with the similar data of GOES, and find that these two categories of data are well consistent in temporal characters and X‐ray flux during solar flare events. By the cross comparison of the X‐ray peak flux for 85 solar flare events from November 2004 to June 2010, it is found that the linear correlative coefficient is 0.795 between FY‐2C and GOES data in 1~8 Å, and the corresponding coefficients between FY‐2D and GOES data in 0.5~3 Å and 1~8 Å are 0.921 and 0.989, respectively. The results indicate that the FY‐2C/D solar X‐ray data are quite reliable for monitoring, warning and researching of the solar X‐ray flare events.

Description of new specimens of Halisaurus arambourgi Bardet &amp; Pereda Suberbiola, 2005 and the relationships of Halisaurinae

Abstract Halisaurine mosasaurs are poorly known, represented by a small number of specimens from the Santonian-Maastrichtian (~86 Ma – ~66 Ma), but enjoyed broad palaeobiogeographic distribution during that time. They are important for understanding mosasaur evolution because certain aspects of their morphology retain the relatively plesiomorphic or minimally modified squamate conditions; however, existing material is limited and certain anatomical details are lacking. We report here two new specimens of Halisaurus arambourgi including a well-preserved, nearly complete skull and postcranial skeleton, and a partial skull that preserves details of the braincase and quadrate. We focus our description on morphology that augments the original description of this species and provides comparisons with other halisaurines. Braincase and temporal arcade characters confirm the plesiomorphic nature of Halisaurus, supporting a relatively basal position of Halisaurinae within Mosasauridae. Comparisons of cranial morphology support reconstruction of relationships within Halisaurinae, indicating that H. arambourgi is most closely related to H. platyspondylus, Phosphorosaurus (= H. ortliebi) is the sister taxon to those taxa, and Eonatator is the most basal described halisaurine. The proportions of the epipodials and the caudal vertebral centrum morphometrics indicate H. arambourgi is more derived than the Santonian to early Campanian Eonatator sternbergii but less derived than a Halisaurus sp. specimen from the mid-Maastrichtian of the Moreno Formation of California, USA. Moreover, vertebral morphometrics reveals that H. arambourgi possessed a downturned tail that likely supported a crescent-like fluke.

Evaluation of long-term tropospheric NO2 columns and the effect of different ecosystem in Yangtze River Delta

Abstract The spatial and temporal characters of tropospheric NO2 column over Yangtze River Delta (YZD) are analyzed using monthly averaged tropospheric NO2 column densities from GOME (1996-2002) and SCIAMACHY (2003-2010) measurements. In addition, with the NO2 column densities data and the land cover maps of YZD, the characters of NO2 concentration over different ecosystem have been analyzed. The results indicated that the tropospheric NO2 column densities in YZD increased distinctly from 1996 to 2010 and it showed distinct regional and seasonal variation characteristics. It has the highest concentration in winter while lowest in summer. It also presents zonal distribution and decreasing along the Yangtze River from eastern to western. Under the influence of the urbanization process, the highest NO2 column densities appeared at cities and metropolis which are located in the Shanghai, Nanjing as well as Hangzhou. Moreover the lowest column densities appeared at the forest areas which are in the south and west of Zhejiang province. The sharp increasing of appeared in water bodies, followed urban area and water bodies. The lowest increasing of NO2 column appeared in grassland. Furthermore, we inferred the ground-level NO2 concentration from the GOME and SCIAMACHY data in this paper. We compared with the dry plus of N deposition which inferred from the remote sensing data and the mass concentration of N dry deposition from the control experiments, they performed significant correlation (P

Sexual signals of the Amazonian frog Allobates paleovarzensis: geographic variation and stereotypy of acoustic traits

AbstractBecause of its close relationship with the process of evolutionary differentiation, it is expected that geographic variability in acoustic sexual traits should be greater among than within populations. This is particularly expected in organisms with typically high population genetic structure and low dispersal abilities, such as anuran amphibians. We studied the acoustic traits of the advertisement call in the small-sized dendrobatoid frogAllobates paleovarzensisthrough its range in Central Amazonia. We accessed the variability of call traits from the within-male to the among-population levels, and evaluated the degree of stereotypy of the call characteristics. Call variability had comparable magnitudes within and among populations, and was independent of the degree of stereotypy of call measurements. Therefore, none of the call traits stood out as a potential cue for discrimination between populations. Spectral call measurements were static and strongly related with body size, which explained between 30 and 35% of the variation of these acoustic traits. Temporal characters of the notes were dynamic and influenced by environmental temperature (e.g., 27% of note rate variation), whilst temporal measurements of the entire calls were not related to the co-factors analysed. Both spectral and temporal call traits varied among populations and between sides of the Amazon River. Our results also indicate that body size and sampling site jointly affected the variability of the call traits. However, geographic distances among populations and the river barrier had no significant effect on the overall acoustic variation, indicating that local stabilising selective forces may be important in the process of call differentiation.

Temporally structured metapopulation dynamics and persistence of influenza A H3N2 virus in humans

Populations of seasonal influenza virus experience strong annual bottlenecks that pose a considerable extinction risk. It has been suggested that an influenza source population located in tropical Southeast or East Asia seeds annual temperate epidemics. Here we investigate the seasonal dynamics and migration patterns of influenza A H3N2 virus by analysis of virus samples obtained from 2003 to 2006 from Australia, Europe, Japan, New York, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and newly sequenced viruses from Hong Kong. In contrast to annual temperate epidemics, relatively low levels of relative genetic diversity and no seasonal fluctuations characterized virus populations in tropical Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. Bayesian phylogeographic analysis using discrete temporal and spatial characters reveal high rates of viral migration between urban centers tested. Although the virus population that migrated between Southeast Asia and Hong Kong persisted through time, this was dependent on virus input from temperate regions and these tropical regions did not maintain a source for annual H3N2 influenza epidemics. We further show that multiple lineages may seed annual influenza epidemics, and that each region may function as a potential source population. We therefore propose that the global persistence of H3N2 influenza A virus is the result of a migrating metapopulation in which multiple different localities may seed seasonal epidemics in temperate regions in a given year. Such complex global migration dynamics may confound control efforts and contribute to the emergence and spread of antigenic variants and drug-resistant viruses.

都市部における塾・習い事に対する関わり方と子ども同士の交流の時間帯の関係

In this research, we evaluated communications among children in an urban area. We classified their lives after school according to time of their private lessons and compared them in three levels — life level, space level and significant space level. As a result, it is found that their daily lives were significantly different from each other and children could not find adequate time to communicate. Furthermore, it is cleared that their communications were highly restricted by private lessons because the time zone when most of private lessons were given was the same as the time when many children who do not have private lessons communicated with their friends. Consequently, children who have lessons seldom communicate with their friends at houses, public facilities or parks. On the other hand, they used streets, shops or the school yard for communications because of the temporal characters of those places. From these conclusions, we proposed some spatial planning and a concept of “regional time-managing plan” to promote communications between children who have private lessons after school and those who do not have private lessons.

Calling song and phonotactic selectivity in the field cricket Teleogryllus emma (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

Males of the field cricket Teleogryllus emma produce calling songs that are attractive to receptive females. The calling songs of T. emma consist of two components, the long chirp that is composed of up to 12 single pulses, followed by a variable number of short chirps. Based on the analysis of coefficient of variation (CV), temporal characters of the long chirp were less variable than those of the short chirps in male calling songs. To test for phonotactic selectivity of females, we conducted a single-stimulus playback experiment in which five stimuli (standard, long chirp only, long chirp aug - mented, short chirps only, and short chirps augmented) were used. The standard stimulus included both long and short chirps whose characteristics were derived from the calling songs of field populations. Results of the playback experiment showed that female crickets oriented more frequently toward the stimuli that included the long chirp (standard, long chirp only, and long chirp augmented stimuli) than toward the stimuli lacking the long chirp (short chirps only and short chirps augmented stimuli), indicating that the long chirp in the calling songs was required to elicit positive phonotaxis in the female crickets. The result of CV analysis of the male calling songs and the findings of the female phonotaxis experi - ment suggested that the long chirp of calling songs may play a role in species recognition in T. emma.

Verification of a dust transport model against theoretical solutions in multidimensional advection diffusion problems

Potentially explosive dust aerosol mobilization in the vacuum vessel is an important safety issue of the ITER facility, especially in scenarios of loss of vacuum accidents. Therefore dust mobilization modeling is ongoing in Research Center Karlsuhe. At first the aerosol particle model in the GASFLOW computer code is introduced briefly. To verify the particle model, a series of particle diffusion problems are simulated in one-, two- and three-dimensions. In each problem a particle source is initially exposed to an advective gas flow. Then a dust cloud is formed in the down stream. To obtain the theoretical solution about the particle concentration in the dust cloud, the governing diffusion partial differential equations with an additional advection term are solved by using Green's function method. Different spatial and temporal characters about the particle sources are also considered, e.g., instantaneous or continuous sources, line, or volume sources and so forth. The GASFLOW simulation results about the particle concentrations and the corresponding Green's function solutions are compared case by case. Very good agreements are found between the theoretical solutions and the GASGLOW simulations, when the drag force between the micron-sized particles and the conveying gas flow meets the Stokes’ law about resistance. This situation is corresponding to a very small Reynolds number based on the particle diameter, with a negligible inertia effect of the particles. This verification work shows that the particle model of the GASFLOW code can reproduce numerically particle transport and diffusion in a good way.

Comprehensive precursor anomaly research based on earthquake corresponding relevancy spectrum

With the aim to the quantification of anomaly identification and extraction for observed or analyzed records, we present two statistical methods of earthquake corresponding relevancy spectrum (ECRS) and sliding mean relevancy (SMR). With ECRS method, we can obtain the abnormal confidence attribute of data in different value ranges. Based on the relevancy spectrum in different studied time-intervals, we convert the original time sequence into relevancy time sequence, and can obtain the SMR time series by using the multi-point cumulative sliding mean method. Then we can identify the seismic precursor anomaly. We test this method by taking the time sequence of η-value in the northern Tianshan region as original data. The result shows that when the studied time-interval is 18 months, the precursor anomaly can be identified better from sliding mean relevancy. The anomaly corresponding rate is 83 percent, the earthquake corresponding rate is 86 percent, and the anomaly is characteristic of the middle term. To try the research on multi-parameter comprehensive application, we take the Kalpin tectonic block in Xinjiang as our studied region, and analyze the spatial and temporal abnormal characters of multi-parameter sliding extreme-value relevancy (MSER) before mid-strong earthquakes in the Kalpin block. The result indicates that ECRS and SMR sequence in different time-intervals can not only be used to identify the precursor anomaly of single-item data, but also offer the data of quantitative single-item anomaly for comprehensive earthquake analysis and prediction.

Multiple neural networks supporting a semantic task: An fMRI study using independent component analysis

A visual task for semantic access involves a number of brain regions. However, previous studies either examined the role of each region separately using univariate approach, or analyzed a single brain network using covariance connectivity analysis. We hypothesize that these brain regions construct several functional networks underpinning a word semantic access task, these networks being engaged in different cognitive components with distinct temporal characters. In this paper, multivariate independent component analysis (ICA) was used to reveal these networks based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data acquired during a visual and an auditory word semantic judgment task. Our results demonstrated that there were three task-related independent components (ICs), corresponding to various cognitive components involved in the visual task. Furthermore, ICA separation on the auditory task showed consistency of the results with our hypothesis, regardless of the input modalities.

Analysis of the Vocalizations of Johnstone's Whistling Frog (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei: Eleutherodactylidae) in Northern-central Venezuela

Abstract The advertisement call of Eleutherodactylus johnstonei consists of two adjacent notes (two tones or frequency components). It is, on average, 314 ms in duration, with the first note shorter than the second (86 and 223 ms respectively). The intercall interval is 1.42 s which corresponds to 46,7 calls/min. The dominant frequency of the first note is 1.8 kHz and that of the second note is 3.18 kHz. Both notes contain harmonic series (up to 5 harmonics in the first note and 3 in the second), with narrow bands of constant frequency except for a short and abrupt (38 Hz/ms) upward modulation at the beginning of the second note. Most of the energy of each note is contained in the fundamental band. Spectral characters vary much less than temporal characters, as in other anurans, but variation of spectral characters is amongst the lowest reported so far (~ 1%). There is a weak negative correlation between body mass and the dominant frequency of the call (r = −0.52); therefore call frequency may indicate ma...

Vibrational Communication in Two Sympatric Species of Mantophasmatodea (Heelwalkers)

The communication via percussion of the abdomen on the substrate for species recognition and mate location of males and females of two sympatric species of the recently described insect order Mantophasmatodea (Heelwalkers) was investigated. Each sex produced a single and distinctive call. The female call consisted of repeated single pulses, whereas the more complex male call comprised repeated pulse trains. The calls of males and females of the two species were of similar general structure, but differed in most temporal characters such as pulse and pulse train repetition time. In behavioral playback experiments females reacted to the call of conspecific males by calling and decreasing locomotion. When stimulated with the call of the heterospecific, sympatric male, females showed no reaction. Males exhibited abdominal rubbing, high tapping rates, increased activity (both movement and active searching) as well as characteristic searching behavior at branch nodes, when presented with the conspecific female call. Being stimulated with the playback of the heterospecific female call and the conspecific male call respectively, males responded with less intense locomotor and searching behavior. The drumming behavior in the control situation (no playback) suggests that males sometimes call in the absence of other individuals.

Material-flow Modeling Technology and Its Application in Manufacturing Execution Systems of Petrochemical Industry

The management and control of material flow forms the core of manufacturing execution systems (MES) in the petrochemical industry. The bottleneck in the application of MES is the ability to match the material-flow model with the production processes. A dynamic material-flow model is proposed in this paper after an analysis of the material-flow characteristics of the production process in a petrochemical industry. The main material-flow events are described, including the movement, storage, shifting, recycling, and elimination of the materials. The spatial and temporal characters of the material-flow events are described, and the material-flow model is constructed. The dynamic material-flow model introduced herein is the basis for other subsystems in the MES. In addition, it is the subsystem with the least scale in MES. The dynamic-modeling method of material flow has been applied in the development of the SinoMES model. It helps the petrochemical plant to manage the entire flow information related to tanks and equipments from the aspects of measurement, storage, movement, and the remaining balance of the material. As a result, it matches the production process by error elimination and data reconciliation. In addition, it facilitates the integration of application modules into the MES and guarantees the potential development of SinoMES in future applications.

Modèles et pensées de l’expression : perspectives microgénétiques

Theories and Models of Expression : a Microgenetic Perspective. We assess the contribution of microgenetic thinking to “expressivist” and semiotic theories of perception. Three layers of expression are distinguished : (i) originary expressivity of experience, (ii) action as expression, and (iii) expression as institution, this latter layer involving the necessity of re-expression and of reprise, along with a diversification of genres and modalities (virtual/ actual, possible / necessary). As we proceed, we delineate the core issues of “expressivism” and define a generic this latter layer involving the necessity of re-expression and of reprise, along with a diversifica-tion of genres and modalities (virtual/ actual, possible / necessary). As we proceed, we delineate the core issues of “ expressivism” and define a generic framework on which to base a theory of expression. Mathematical models of actualization and theories of thematic field and of thematization provide in this respect valuable conceptual tools. The question of reprise is then restated as that of a necessary diversification of mod-alities (whether empowering or constraining) relative to different “ phases” of micro-genesis, each of which potentially involving its own modes of perception and memory. The continuous and dynamical setting laid out in the article enables us to account for various kinds of genericity that are constitutively correlated with different phases of activity (modes of organization) co-occurring in the field. Critical in this respect is the genetic concept of anticipation which subtends varying motivation building upon protention or forward tension. Depending on the phase of microgenesis, it becomes possible to highlight different modal and temporal characters involved in the constitution of forms in the field. A series of diagrams illustrates various stages of this development, which culminates in instituted semiosis and enunciation, each intrinsically related to, but distinct of, its expressive dimensions.

Detection of focal epileptic activity using combined simultaneous electroencephalogram-functional MRI

Objective To observe the brain activation of interictal epiletiform discharges(IEDs) and to localize the epileptogenic foci of epilepsy.Methods The electroencephalogram(EEG)and functional MRI data of 12 focal epileptic patients were acquired using a combination of EEG and functional MRI simultaneously.The IEDs onset time detected with EEG were set as the time parameters in an event- related paradigm of functional MRI analysis.The spatial and temporal characters of IEDs activation were analyzed in detail.In order to confirm the consistency of this method,all patients were scanned repeatedly and the results were correlated with clinical evaluation.Results Of the 12 patients,valid data from EEG- fMRI were obtained from 10 patients in a total of 18 sessions..Compared with the structural foci,the epileptic foci localization results of eleven sessions were good,five sessions were fairly good,and two sessions were poor.The results obtained from six patients in two separate sessions were concordant.respectively.Moreover,thalamic activation was detected in ten sessions,cerebellar activation was detected in all sessions,and the deactivation was found in the default mode loci in nine sessions. Conclusion The method of performing EEG and fMRI simultaneously can potentially be a useful tool in epilepsy research.

A Spatial–Temporal Stochastic Simulation of Fire Outbreaks Following Earthquake Based on GIS

Post-earthquake fire is a dangerous secondary disaster following an earthquake, which causes severe life losses and property destruction. Similar to other natural disasters, fire outbreak following an earthquake carries its own spatial and temporal characters. In order to explore these characters, we analyzed in detail the fires caused by the Hanshin earthquake in Japan (1995). We identified the key spatial–temporal characters of the fire outbreak following an earthquake. Using this analysis methodology, we further collected and organized the records of post-earthquake fires that have occurred in the 20th century in USA, Japan, and China, and modeled fire outbreaks following an earthquake by employing a regression analysis method. Considering the stochastic characters of post-earthquake fires, we proposed a random Poisson event and Weibull distribution model in constructing the spatial–temporal probability distribution of fire outbreaks following an earthquake in urban districts. In addition, we propose a geographical information system (GIS) based stochastic simulation schema to predict the spatial–temporal process of fire outbreaks following future earthquakes. Finally, we applied our models to simulate the fire outbreaks in Xiamen city after an assumed earthquake of a similar magnitude as the Hanshin earthquake. Our simulation result not only exhibits the spatial–temporal characters of fire outbreaks following an earthquake, but also supplies valuable decision-making information to the planning of Xiamen city's seismic prevention and mitigation.

Turing pattern formation in coupled reaction-diffusion systems: Effects of sub-environment and external influence

The effect of sub-environment and external influence on Turing pattern formation in two-layer coupled reaction-diffusion systems is studied. When the two layers are in different sub-environments, not only can classical Turing patterns be either induced or inhibited, but also special Turing patterns with different temporal characters may appear. This means Turing pattern formation in the coupled systems may result from coupling. When one of the sub-layers is under external influence, Turing patterns in the coupled systems exhibit stronger ability to survive than in the single-layer cases. Since bilayer membranes or mutilayer tissues are often found, this work is of practical significance for investigations of pattern formation in complex biological systems.